Device for adjusting car-couplings.



F. M. TURNER & J. DAHLSTROM.

DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING CAR COUPLINGS.

APPLICATIONFILED FEB. 12. 1915.

1 1 5 1 ,22. Patent-ed Aug. 24, 1915.

LL h.

WITNESSES INVENTORS FMA. 17%

M hm J7 JM laflm ATTORNEY COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co wAsmNaToN. D. c.

FRANK 1V1. TURNER AND JOHN DAHLS'IROM, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

Application filed February 12, 1915. Serial No. 7,698.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK M. TURNER and JOHN DAHLSTROM, both of the city of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Device for Adjusting Car-Couplings, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion of the end of a car provided with our device; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; and Fig. 3 is a detached View of the yoke.

In all car couplers the coupling heads are so mounted on the car that they are capable of lateral movement, which movement is necessary in rounding curves. It therefore frequently happens that when cars are to be coupled together the shanks of the couplers are out of line with the car, and the coupler headsof the cars are out of line with each other, thus necessitating the adjustment of the coupler heads before the cars can be coupled. Usually this adjustment is done by the hand or foot of the brakeman, who is compelled to go between the two cars; consequently injury to the brakeman is a common occurrence.

The object of our invention is to provide a simple and eflicient device by means of which the couplers may be adjusted from a point outside of the meeting faces of the cars; and it consists in an operating member so placed as to be capable of adjusting the coupler, and to be operated from the side or top of the car, without interfering with the normal lateral play of the couplers.

In the drawing 2 represents a portion of the end of a car provided with an automatic coupler 3 having a shank 4. This coupler may be of the ordinary construction mounted on the car in the ordinary manner. Extending upwardly at each side of the shank 4 of the coupler are the vertical arms 5, which are preferably connected with each other in one yoke shaped piece, the arm 5 being normally out of contact with the shank, the distance of removal of each arm from the shank of the coupler being one half of the distance of the lateral play thereof. These arms 5 are at their upper ends pivoted to the elbows of the bell crank levers 6, the short arms 7 of which levers may be pivoted to the end plate or striking-casting on the end sill of the car, the long arms 8 extending to the side of the car where they may be operated by the brakeman without the necessity of his going between the cars.

The operation is as follows: When it is desired to bring the coupler heads in line with the coupler of an adjacent car either one of the levers 8 is raised or lowered to pull or push one of the arms 5 against the shank of the coupler to bring the shank back to its normal position.

From the foregoing specification the advantages of our invention should be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Although we have shown one form in which our device may be constructed, we do not desire to limit ourselves thereto.

Having thus described our invention what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is.-

1. In a device for adjusting car couplers v a yoke member spanning the shank thereof and provided with upwardly extending arms normally out of contact therewith, manually operating members engaging said yoke member to move either of said arms into engagement with said coupler shank.

2. In a device for adjusting car couplers, a yoke member spanning the shank thereof and provided with upwardly extending arms normally out of contact therewith, a lever pivoted to the end sill of the car and connected with said yoke member to move either of said arms into engagement with said coupler shank.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands.

FRANK M. TURNER. JOHN DAHLSTROM.

Witnesses:

JOSEPHINE MACGILVRAY, JAMEs K. BAKEwELL.

Copies 01' this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

